Creativity and Our Responsibility to the World As We Know It.

Hi Creative Beasts. It’s been seven months since my last post. I feel like I’m going to confession–except I’m not Catholic–or anything even remotely close. So why do I feel like I’m having a “Come to Jesus” meeting with you all? (And I would be the one getting called.) I’ll do my best to explain. There are few things that I’ve learned this year… or perhaps that I’m beginning to learn about life–and I’ll add the caveat that I am referring to none other than my life. Because mine is the only one that I’m living, as far as I know. Heh. However, I feel it necessary to make this distinction because what I’m about to share with you are simply my thoughts, for what they are worth, and you’re free to digest or eschew as you see fit.

A dear friend said recently, “Just when we think we know it all, we realize we know nothing.”

My first reaction to this statement was a bit flippant, and was something to the effect of, “Well, either way, we’re pretty much fucked, aren’t we?” It’s a dog’s dinner, as they say. But in all honesty, I get the point, and yes. Time after time, and throughout the course of life, we find ourselves coming back to the place at which we–at the very least–feel like everything as we once understood it to be, is now completely and utterly topsy-turvy. It’s humbling.

2011 has been a strange, and both brilliant and beautiful year along with some trials. It’s late, and perhaps one day I can follow up and expand a bit more on the joy and pain of it all, but for now, I’ll just share some of the things that I’m trying to learn, and that are maybe bringing me home, so to speak.

1) As creative beings, we have a responsibility to our worlds as we know them. Otherwise, why are we here, really? I think this is the biggest question I’ve been asking myself, lately, and it’s not the first time. But maybe it’s the first time I’ve gotten an answer that I’m a little closer to being satisfied with. My answer is that we need to be honest with ourselves about why we pursue the things that we do, and hopefully, somewhere in the creative process, and in the pursuit of something more, is the desire to make the world a better place.

Some of us work long hours at stuff that sometimes doesn’t make us happy and sometimes even eats at our souls, when we know in our hearts that we have something better to offer up. There’s this sense that there is a bigger picture happening–something greater taking shape–something to be a part of, or perhaps even take hold of and then bring to a higher level. That brings me to number two.

2) If you have something better, then do something better. Quit settling. It’s kind of like “the glass is either half-full or half-empty” thing, but frankly, it’s more than that. See, if there are areas in life in which you’ve been settling or compromising on for a while, then I believe this to be a more urgent matter. You may need a fire under you–to help rekindle the one in your belly. It may be more beneficial to look at it this way: you can choose to start living, or you can just keep on dying. And if we face facts, every day that we’re alive, we’re another day closer to the end. That’s just the nature of things, so we may as well make the best of it, eh? Either way is correct, but your approach can really make a difference as to how things turn out. You can do something, or you can do nothing. It’s up to you. But if you choose to do nothing, then it’s probably best not to complain.

3) Love begins with you. Be kind to yourself at every opportunity. This can be hard. Creative Beasts are so self-admonishing. At times, we are painfully so. We observe, and we criticize, and we create based on what is formed from these interpretations. But very often, we are most critical of ourselves. We want the ideal. We seek perfection. This can be costly. It all starts with you. What you create inside is what is then reflected to the world around you.

4) Go forth with the mission of making something better. Maybe it’s just you that you want to improve upon. That’s okay, and in fact, it’s perfect. If you can become the best “you” that you can be, you can and will change other things for the better.

5) Don’t be afraid to let things happen. This is how some of our most amazing journeys will begin and by which we will be transformed. At some of our most terrifying and painful moments, we must simply remember to let go and have faith. It will be okay.

That’s it for now, Creative Beasts. Much love, and as always… SEIZE THE PREY.

Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans. – John Lennon